If you’ve read this blog for a while, you know that I take great amusement from seeing the different 4×4 creations and amalgamations that I occasionally spot around town. My boys and I were out in the truck tonight and spotted this creation just before sunset: a Ford Galaxie on a ’79 Ford F150 chassis!

I got to talk to the owner of this beast for a minute, and he said that the transformation took a mere four days due to a lot of planning. It’s a really nice piece of work, I must say. This creation was only recently finished, but I bet you’ll spot it around town soon!

I’d say this whole homemade 4×4 thing is getting out of hand…but isn’t that the point? I’d hate to discourage this kind of creativity and ingenuity. Besides, it’s exactly the opposite of what liberals want us to do, drive silly little death traps in a vain attempt to “save” the planet they worship.

For any of you who haven’t seen them all, here are a few of the other creations I’ve spotted in Bismarck-Mandan:

My boys and I spotted this rugged looking Ford Van conversion last year. Yep, it’s a dually; it’s got four tires on the back. I guess it’s ready for some heavy cargo, since it can’t pull a fifth wheel trailer. Interesting.

This little Gremlin conversion scores big points for the license plate: MOGWAI. 

Nothing says class like a Mercedes sedan. Apparently if you don’t like the ride height, it’s possible to give it a little boost (along with some four wheel drive for good measure).

Equally classy is the Cadillac sedan, which happens to bolt on to a Suburban (by the look of things) chassis. The step rails are a bonus in my book. This is in the nicest shape of all the conversions I’ve seen.

Knight Rider had a lot of gadgets, but I’m pretty sure that four wheel drive and a Vortec V6 were not among them. There’s a ZR-2 model S-10 chassis underneath this Firebird.

There’s one other 4×4 I haven’t seen around here since the mid 1990s: a pinkish-red pearl El Camino, or possibly Ranchero, which was last seen on the used car lot at Cedric Theel. Who knows where it eventually ended up. If I spot that one, I’ll count my collection complete. Of course, that’s what I said before I saw the Gremlin.

I took my little boys to watch a friend fly his paraplane last week, and they were thrilled. It basically flies by pushing itself forward, which puts air into a giant parachute up above. It’s pretty neat to watch him drift lazily by, and even though it’s a two-seater I prefer the view from the ground.

I suppose it’s ironic that I like approaching 200 miles an hour on a motorcycle, but I don’t like airplanes. When I am told I must fly somewhere for work, I comfort myself by looking out the window as we take off. Most jets that fly out of Bismarck go airborne at 120 to 140 miles per hour, which is nothing for me; I’ve still got a few more gears at that speed!

My little two year old assured me, after watching the paraplane flight, that he is going to be three soon…and that means that he can fly the airplane. He told me how he will turn the key, it will make the propeller turn, and he’ll go up in the sky! His one year old brother and I will be able to watch him fly around, he says. I guess he’s got it all figured out.

Another milestone was reached with this photo, as it’s my 49,000th picture with this camera. I want a new one very badly but don’t have the money for it. If that makes your heart well up with pity, click on the “Donate” link on the right hand panel and contribute to Clint’s Camera Fund™!

My boys and I spotted this rugged looking Ford Van conversion tonight. Yep, it’s got four tires on the back. I guess it’s ready for some heavy cargo, since it can’t pull a fifth wheel trailer. Interesting.

I’d say this whole homemade 4×4 thing is getting out of hand…but isn’t that the point? I’d hate to discourage this kind of creativity and ingenuity. Besides, it’s exactly the opposite of what liberals want us to do, drive silly little deathtraps in a vain attempt to “save” the planet they worship.

For any of you who haven’t seen them all, here are a few of the other creations I’ve spotted in Bismarck-Mandan:

This little Gremlin conversion scores big points for the license plate: MOGWAI.

Nothing says class like a Mercedes sedan. Apparently if you don’t like the ride height, it’s possible to give it a little boost (along with some four wheel drive for good measure).

Equally classy is the Cadillac sedan, which happens to bolt on to a Suburban (by the look of things) chassis. The step rails are a bonus in my book. This is in the nicest shape of all the conversions I’ve seen.

Knight Rider had a lot of gadgets, but I’m pretty sure that four wheel drive and a Vortec V6 were not among them. There’s a ZR-2 model S-10 chassis underneath this Firebird.

There’s one other 4×4 I haven’t seen around here since the mid 1990s: a pinkish-red pearl El Camino, or possibly Ranchero, which was last seen on the used car lot at Cedric Theel. Who knows where it eventually ended up. If I spot that one, I’ll count my collection complete. Of course, that’s what I said before I saw the Gremlin.

While on my way to help some friends with their computer, I spotted this beast. It’s an AMC Gremlin, a car model of some considerable notoriety. I’m not sure of the brand/model of the chassis to which it’s affixed, but it makes a pretty proportional 4×4. Now it just needs some paint and TLC.

The license plate reads “MOGWAI.” For those of you who don’t get that… you are obviously not children of the 1980s. That or you didn’t see this movie. In any case, I caught the reference instantly.

This was a pleasant surprise, because I already had the “4×4 Mongrel Trifecta” completed:

The 4×4 Cadillac was one of my favorites. This has got to be on a Suburban chassis, I can’t think of anything else big enough! Maybe a big extended cab pickup frame.

Then there’s the 4×4 Mercedes. I bet the engineers back in Stuttgart never imagined this! No idea on the chassis here.

I called this one a “Four by Firebird.” I’ll put this one up against KITT in the original Knight Rider any day! This one is on a Chevy S-10 chassis, which I knew by sight but also from the “Vortec” sticker on the side of the car.

I figured my work was done with the trifecta. Then I found myself employing a term that doesn’t even exist in my dictionary as this fourth photo op presented itself. If I ever run into that pink/red El Camino 4×4 that used to sit in the used car lot over at Cedric Theel a long time ago, I’ll have the quintfecta! Ugh…I need to come up with better terminology. I could say something like “4×4 by four” I suppose, that’s got a nice ring to it…but what happens when I see a fifth?